Human rights, anti-corruption and elections: human rights defenders met with Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Kyiv

On 1 April 2026, a meeting took place in Kyiv between representatives of Ukrainian civil society and Helen McEntee, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who arrived in Ukraine on an official visit.

Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026. Among its priorities will be supporting Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership, including accelerating the negotiation process. In Dublin, Ukraine’s membership is also viewed as an important security guarantee.

During the meeting, participants discussed a wide range of issues related to the protection of human rights, anti-corruption efforts, judicial reform, and preparations for the first post-war elections.

Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of the Board of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, raised a number of issues important in the context of Ukraine’s European integration. In particular, she emphasised the need to strengthen guarantees of the independence of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, improve anti-discrimination legislation, adopt a law on civil partnerships, and reinforce efforts to combat torture and ill-treatment in places of detention, as well as to improve detention conditions and ensure adequate medical care in the penitentiary system.

Participants also discussed a law adopted last year that restricts access to public information, including real estate registers and the land cadastre. According to human rights defenders, such restrictions may negatively affect the work of investigative journalists and anti-corruption activists.

Among other topics were politically motivated persecution of anti-corruption activists, including court proceedings and criminal cases against Vitalii Shabunin and detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

Helen McEntee expressed particular interest in issues related to the protection of the rights of LGBTIQ persons, as well as combating domestic violence.

Participants emphasised that, despite continued support for Ukraine from European partners, the European integration process requires further acceleration on the part of the Ukrainian authorities. This concerns both the work of the government and parliament, as well as the need for political will to implement the necessary reforms.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of leading Ukrainian civil society organisations, including the Centre for Civil Liberties, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, the DEJURE Foundation, Transparency International Ukraine and the Civil Network OPORA.

In addition to the meeting with civil society representatives, Helen McEntee held a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing the unblocking of the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the EU and continued support for Ukrainians. The Minister also visited Bucha, where she took part in events marking the fourth anniversary of the city’s liberation from Russian occupation.

Earlier, on 16 March, civil society representatives met with Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, who was visiting Ukraine as part of international events marking Saint Patrick’s Day. Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of the Board of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, also took part in the meeting.